Monday, August 27, 2012

Wielding Weapons

When Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon came out I was fascinated with everything about that movie. The story line, the martial artists, the clothing...everything was beautifully done and I watched it many times as I picked apart the artistry on the screen. The weapons were superb and the characters wielded them with confidence in their own ability to do what is right.

Writing is like that. We revise numerous times as we cut and whittle our words down to size. But what are the best weapons to use in our endeavor to polish our works in progress? This guy has a solid approach and yet I wonder if any manuscript would survive his revision cuts? I think I will take a kinder, gentler approach and use the following resource list to help me sharpen my creations:

1. a good critique group for feedback of story basics

2. an editor friend with strong spelling and grammar skills to comb through sentence structure errors

3. a beta reader to flesh out the points in the story where a reader might stumble

4. a librarian or book store manager to provide genre research

5. groups like Rate Your Story to help critique the marketability of my work

6. contests, workshops, retreats and other ways to help strengthen my writing skills

7. the blogger wisdom of those who have come before me to lead the way on the path to publication

There is a saying that it take a village to raise a child. I think it takes a caring writing community to make an author. Now all I need to do is wield the right weapon...

Loved this! It's so true, I didn't understand all that went into writing until I completed my first manuscript, even then I was like...is it time to query now??? Thankfully I had someone to tell me not to do that.

Hi Patrice and welcome to my blog! I was lucky enough when I returned to my writing in 2011 to stumble upon this fabulous writing community which has helped me to grow into a much stronger writer than if I had tried it on my own!

Hi Diane! Lol...I have not forgotten about you, my friend, and will try to end your patient waiting hopefully later today. I had some unexpected issues to deal with yesterday so needless to say my day at the TKD school on Monday was incredibly hectic as I taught all classes by myself! ;~)

Hi Susanna! Oh yes, the positive energy I have received from this wonderful community has fed my spirit for the past year and a half...I can only hope I am given the opportunity to give some in return with my blog...;~)